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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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vii TO HIMSELF 97<br />

himself or assigned by his commander, there, as I<br />

believe, it is his duty <strong>to</strong> stand fast in the hour <strong>of</strong><br />

danger, recking nothing <strong>of</strong> death or anything else<br />

in comparison ivith dishonour'' *<br />

"<br />

my friend, I would have you<br />

see that the 46<br />

noble and the good is possibly something quite<br />

different from saving and being saved ; the true<br />

man will take little account <strong>of</strong> a few years more<br />

or less <strong>of</strong> life ; that he will leave <strong>to</strong> God, not<br />

hugging life, but believing that, as the women say,<br />

no man can escape the hour <strong>of</strong> destiny ; and he<br />

will turn his thoughts <strong>to</strong> consider how tie can best<br />

spend the term <strong>of</strong> life appointed him <strong>to</strong> live'' 2<br />

"<br />

Survey the courses <strong>of</strong> the stars, and join their 47<br />

heavenly race'' Constantly<br />

realise the mutual<br />

transformations <strong>of</strong> the elements. For such<br />

imaginings purge away<br />

the soils <strong>of</strong> this earth-<br />

life.<br />

A fine thought <strong>of</strong> Pla<strong>to</strong>'s. So likewise in 48<br />

discoursing <strong>of</strong> men, we should, " as from some<br />

eminence, survey earth and its herds," camps,<br />

farms, marriages, severances, births, deaths, the<br />

babel <strong>of</strong> the law-courts, wastes <strong>of</strong> wilderness,<br />

motley barbarians, festivals, dirges, fairs,<br />

1<br />

Pla<strong>to</strong>, Apology 28 E.<br />

H<br />

2 Pla<strong>to</strong>, Gorgias 512 n E.<br />

all the

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